Survey asks community for input on alcohol and drug issues in Goldfields region

The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Local Drug Action Group has launched its third Community Alcohol and Drug Perception Survey.

Open to residents in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Coolgardie and Kambalda, the survey guides the group forward with a clear, community-based understanding of alcohol and drug-related issues in the region.

Group spokeswoman Susan Owen said community consultation was a key component which allowed the group to address issues relevant specifically to this part of the Goldfields.

“The survey data is one tool to measure what is changing within our community but also identify what the community supports and what they don’t support, and what they see as the issues,” she said .

“It allows the community to have a voice — that voice will then be taken into account when we look at reviewing the actions of the plan.

“It is all very well for the police to say it is this or the Department of Housing Commission to say it’s that, but this is about identifying what the community thinks the alcohol and drug issues are.”

Mrs Owen said the anonymous survey further allowed the group to understand if the community was informed about the service options available in town, surrounding drug and alcohol use.

“We also ask people if they know where to go for help so we can ascertain if we need to do more promotion around our services,” she said. “

We have such a transient community and with so many people coming and going, we need to really keep people up-to-date with services which are available in our community.”

Residents who complete the survey go into the draw to win one of three prizes — a $200 voucher donated by Star Caltex, a $100 Bunnings voucher donated by Headspace and a $50 Coles voucher donated by the Goldfields Community Alcohol and Drug Service.

The prizes will be drawn live on KBLDAG’s Facebook page by the Goldfields Giants State Basketball League team captain Jerome Reid next month.